The spatial dimension in university-social environment interactions. A proposal for the Argentine case

ABSTRACT

This article analyzes how the spatial dimension is incorporated in interactions between universities and their environments, based on three ideal-types of interaction: scientific-technological poles, the establishment of networks, and the university as a locale. This work is based on a systematic analysis of specialized literature and fieldwork that included 120 interviews carried out across four Argentine universities between 2016 and 2021. The main findings indicate that spatial dimension is traditionally understood as a surface where actions take place; we propose to think of space in university–social environment interactions as a product of the different situations of interaction that is contingent and enables or restricts the possibilities of generating lasting impacts.

RESUMO

Este artigo analisa a forma como a dimensão espacial é incorporada nas interacções que têm lugar entre as universidades e os seus ambientes, a partir de três modalidades-tipo de interação: pólos científico-tecnológicos, redes e a universidade como sede. O trabalho baseia-se numa análise sistemática da literatura especializada, e no trabalho de campo em quatro universidades argentinas que envolveu a realização de 120 entrevistas entre os anos de 2016 e 2021. As principais conclusões indicam que, a partir das concepções mais tradicionais, a dimensão espacial não é complexificada, mas é entendida uma superfície onde as ações têm lugar. Pelo contrário, nas interacções universidade-ambiente, propomos pensar o espaço como um produto das diferentes situações de interacção, que é contingente e que permite ou restringe as possibilidades de gerar impactos duradouros nos ambientes das universidades.

RESUMEN

El artículo analiza la forma en que se incorpora la dimensión espacial en las interacciones que se producen entre las universidades y sus entornos, a partir de tres ideales-tipos de interacción: los polos científico-tecnológicos, el establecimiento de redes y la universidad como sede. El trabajo se basa en un análisis sistemático de literatura especializada, y en un trabajo de campo en cuatro universidades argentinas que implicó la realización de 120 entrevistas entre los años 2016 y 2021. Los principales hallazgos revelados indican que desde las concepciones más tradicionales, la dimensión espacial no aparece complejizada, sino como una superficie donde discurren las acciones. Por el contrario, en las interacciones universidad-entorno proponemos pensar al espacio como un producto de las distintas situaciones de interacción, que es contingente y que habilita o restringe las posibilidades de generar impactos duraderos en los entornos de las universidades.

KEYWORDS:

• Spatial dimension
• university
• social environment
• interaction

PALAVRAS-CHAVE:

• Dimensão espacial
• universidade
• ambiente
• interacção

PALABRAS CLAVE:

• Dimensión espacial
• universidad
• entorno
• interacción

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1 The University Reform of 1918 was a movement that sought to transform higher education institutions in the country, aiming for greater democratization, academic freedom, and social relevance. The Reform was a response to the perceived authoritarianism, elitism, and academic conservatism of the university system at the time, and was driven primarily by university students. Among other objectives, it aimed to establish an active university outreach policy, promoting greater engagement with the community and a commitment to address social issues. The Reform had a significant impact not only in Argentina, but also in other Latin American countries, inspiring similar movements for educational reform and social change (Buchbinder 2010).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas.

Notes on contributors

Pablo Sánchez Macchioli

Pablo Sánchez Macchioli is a fellow at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina, PhD candidate in Social Sciences and Humanities, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes. He is lecturer in Economic Geography (UADE, Buenos Aires) and in MA Programs in Science, Technology and Society (Universidad Nacional de Quilmes) and in the PhD program on Engineering (Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Buenos Aires).

Mariana Eva Di Bello

Mariana Eva Di Bello is a researcher at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Argentina, Associate Researcher at the Interdisciplinary Center in Methodology of Social Sciences/ Research Institute in Humanities and Social Sciences. Universidad Nacional de la Plata (UNLP). She is lecturer in Contemporary Social Theory (Sociology Department – UNLP) and in the MA Programs of Science, Technology and Society and Social Sciences and Humanities (Universidad Nacional de Quilmes).

Fernanda Andrea Soca

Fernanda Andrea Soca is a fellow at the National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales (IdIHCS), Universidad Nacional de La Plata. La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is a doctoral fellow of the Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. She is a PhD candidate in Social Sciences at the University of Buenos Aires. She has a Master's Degree in Science, Technology and Society and a background in Sociology.